Black Dahlia Avenger: A Genius for Murder: The True Story Paperback – February 17, 2015

Every once in awhile I read a book that seems to prove the old adage "Truth is stranger than fiction.". This is one of them.The horrific murder itself is the main subject but interwoven around the murder are many sub plots and other issues. These include:1) the author's childhood and other experiences before he became a detective2) the strange and intimate relationship between law enforcement and the media that existed back then3) the high level of corruption within the LAPD during that time period4) the strange cast of characters who were close friends of the killer including Man Ray (who idolized the Marquis de Sade), John Huston, and some mysterious German baron who the author was never able to identifyThe author was related to the killer and was also a detective for many years. This unique background gave him the ability, the insights, and the personal experiences to unravel this mystery as nobody else could have.There's so many strange twists and sub plots in this story that, if it wasn't true, people would never believe all of this could have really happened. For example the author's first wife had years before been the killer's girlfriend and she apparently married Steve Hodel out of spite just to get back at the killer.When Hodel came up with his theories he did not have access to the official police reports, documents, etc., about the Dahlia murder. This official information has since been released and it matches up exactly with the book. That fact, combined with statements made by people in law enforcement, seems to indicate that the book is true. I believe it is true.He feels that the high level of corruption in the LAPD back when this event occurred resulted in the destruction of physical evidence and, much more importantly, allowed this mad man to remain free in society and commit many more murders. They did not want the killer to be caught since he knew things that would expose all the corruption about illegal abortion rings, pay offs to district attorneys, etc.. The killer had already paid $ 15,000., a small fortune at that time, to get let off for raping his daughter. That was before the Dahlia murder.Once people in law enforcement have been corrupted all is lost as far as protecting the public. This was the struggle that was going on behind the scenes as the good cops tried to solve the case but were thwarted at every turn by the bad guys. People died as a result.The victim herself was a discarded, unwanted person. Throughout the book she was always late with the rent, needing money for cab fare, steeling, lying, having sex with various people, etc.. It doesn't take a genius to realize that trouble was in this girl's future. She found that trouble when she walked into the killer's venereal disease clinic.This story is the psychological analysis of a criminal genius. A genius intellectually perhaps but not emotionally. Hodel suggests that the killer's intellect advanced far beyond his emotional maturity. This caused feelings of isolation, disdain, and superiority towards peers and ultimately towards everyone else. These are however fancy psychological concepts which are not really necessary to describe what this guy was. Evil. People like this become possessed by a perverse and evil spirit which they can no longer control.It's interesting where Hodel says one night he could feel the spirits of the victims there with him. They were coming in from the spirit world I guess, crying out for justice.This is a big book. It's not something that most people could be read and absorb in one night.Jeff MarzanoDeadly Thrills: The True Story of Chicago's Most Shocking Killers by Jaye Fletcher (Sep 1, 1995)Slow Death by James Fielder (Jan 1, 2003)The Men Who Killed Kennedy Starring Hilary Minster, Robert J. Groden, L. Fletcher Prouty, et al. (2011)

Well-researched, though "reaching" occasionally to make connections (some just don't seem borne out by facts). However, in this UPDATED version, the author owns his errors from the first edition, points them out, actually says "I was wrong", and corrects them! We also get a good picture of what Elizabeth Short was like as a person. And the author hasn't doubled down by rejecting facts that don't fit his theory (though he did bring to light some corroborative things that tend to bolster his view). Is the case closed? Technically, not yet, but this update along with its updated follow-up ("BDA II") might sway any fence-sitters to look into the author's compelling conclusions (and despite being an ex-cop, Steve Hodel writes very well!) and think "Maybe, this time, this is finally it."

Black Dahlia Avenger by, Steve Hodel.As a child, when I came across a documentary that my father was watching at the time, brought my attention to it. Seeing a portrait of Elizabeth Short on the tv screen, I found her beautiful. In my child's mind, I thought she was a movie star. Sadly, my father told me; "She wasn't because she was murdered in a brutal way. Due to that, it's what's making her famous." I sat through that hour and was saddened to learn what caused her death and how the mysterious murderer vanished. Years will go by and I still thought of her. Even in school, I would ask my teachers if they ever heard of The Black Dahlia. In which they did and only told me; "It's the saddest case in history." She never left my mind, no matter how older I got. I've read every story they had out there of her and even watch multiple documentaries. It was something about her that intrigued me. Especially on her beauty. I always found her beautiful. At the age of 40, I finally wrote about her in my book which will be renewed by my real name. Still, she lingers in my mind and I've held it in secret. Again, as I've said before, I'm intrigued by her.Getting this book on Christmas by my mother, I was thrilled. The next day, I opened the book, turned on the first page, and couldn't stop myself from reading it. Steve Hodel had everything he needed to prove who the murderer(s) was. Shockingly, who would've known the murderer was next to him all along. Throughout his whole life, he was there. If Steve only knew in time and had seen something earlier, that person next to him could've been jailed and justice would've been served. Even now, justice is served because Steve Hodel solved it. I hope the murderer(s) rots in hell for what they did to Elizabeth and the others. It's a horrible, gruesome way to do unto another. It breaks my heart to read the aftermath of what was done to these victims. It makes your heartache and sadness loom over you.For each of the victims, especially Elizabeth Short, I hope they are resting in peace, knowing that Steve has solved the cases.Elizabeth Short will always linger in my mind though. It will never fade no matter my ages later on.